Special Issue: Public Service Media and Innovation
Editors: Elton Bruno Pinheiro (Programa de Pós-graduação em Comunicação da Universidade de Brasília, Brasil) and Luís António Santos (Centro de Estudos de Comunicação e Sociedade da Universidade do Minho, Portugal)
Languages: Portuguese; English; Spanish
DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION: 7 July 2025

Abstract
The main objective of this Special Issue is to analytically reflect on Public Service Media from the perspective of the multidimensional field of innovation. The innovation we refer to should be understood as a “social phenomenon” (Rossetti, 2013), as it encompasses not only “technological” aspects but also “symbolic” ones. Therefore, we aim to understand how Public Service Media (in some contexts referred to as Public Broadcasting Services) in different regions are innovating, can/should innovate, or face challenges in innovating—whether in programming, management, social participation, funding, or regulation. This is particularly relevant in political, economic, and sociocultural contexts where a range of emerging and disruptive technologies, such as artificial intelligence tools, are increasingly impacting both the governance of the Public Sector and the “media present” (Martino, 2009), which is marked by phenomena such as disinformation, hate speech, and various forms of populism. These issues are becoming more prevalent within the framework of a “platform society” (Van Dijck, Poell & Wall, 2018), placing democracy and citizenship under growing pressure.

Description and Framework
The perspective of innovation should be intrinsic to Public Service Media, particularly in understanding it as a phenomenon that must be addressed across different dimensions—not only in technological terms but also within the realm of the symbolic. Public media have the mission to educate, inform, and entertain with universality, diversity, independence, and distinctiveness, and, as we argue here, in dialogue with innovation—especially through a culture of innovation. This culture should be driven primarily by investment in the production of knowledge that is thoughtfully developed and articulated to contribute to social development, democracy, and citizenship.

In contemporary society, citizens increasingly engage with media consumption habits mediated by platforms and intelligent tools. These not only transform the media ecosystem in terms of production and circulation but also place ethical pressures on journalistic, advertising, and audiovisual production. Within this ecosystem, Public Service Media —each shaped by their unique sociocultural contexts—face political and/or bureaucratic challenges that hinder the cultivation of innovation in their routines. These challenges may relate to adapting to technological transformations or to the ways in which social participation is incorporated into management and the evaluation of public service operators within this evolving landscape.

This Special Issue is particularly justified by the recognition that the integration of a multidimensional culture of innovation—rooted in social participation and transparency—is essential. It is through this approach that the continuous actions and strategies (whether short-, medium-, or long-term) of Public Service Media can be strengthened, contributing to the expansion of public media’s social legitimacy and sustainability. This, in turn, helps to overcome the symbolic stagnation that has historically weighed on the sector.

Objectives and approaches
Reflect on the innovation perspective adopted by Public Service Media across different territories, with a focus on approaches that prioritize analyses and/or diagnostics based on the institutional documentary material of Public Service operators.

Understand how Public Service Media have positioned themselves within the contemporary sociodigital media ecosystem, with an emphasis on actions and/or strategies related to phenomena such as convergence, platformization, the use of artificial intelligence tools, and algorithmic logic.

Identify and analyze the ethical issues that should be considered in the process of integrating public broadcasters into the socio-digital media environment, focusing on approaches that consider the principles, objectives, and mission of Public Service Media and/or Public Broadcasting.

Assess the current state of the regulatory framework for Public Service Media in different countries, considering both national legislation and its broader transnational context.

Discuss how public media have contributed or can contribute, including as a media literacy tool, to addressing contemporary political and social phenomena—focusing on issues such as disinformation, the spread of fake news, hate speech, populism, and also the strengthening of democracy, citizenship, and scientific progress.

Map and document the main contemporary challenges faced by Public Service Media (or Public Broadcasting Services) in innovating, highlighting key dimensions such as programming, management, social participation, funding, and regulation.

Possible subtopics:

• Innovation perspectives adopted by Public Service Media (and/or Public Broadcasting) in different territories;
• Communication policies for fostering a culture of innovation within Public Service Media;
• Public Service Media and the contemporary socio-digital media ecosystem;
• Platformization and the use of artificial intelligence tools by Public Service Media;
• Ethical issues in integrating public broadcasters into the socio-digital media environment;
• Regulatory framework for Public Service Media in different countries/transnational regions;
• The perspective (and challenges) of the “AI Act” and the “Digital Services Act” (and other regulatory frameworks on Digital Services and AI usage in different countries) for Public Service Media;
• Public media and innovation in addressing contemporary political and social phenomena, such as disinformation, the spread of fake news, hate speech, and populism;
• Public Media, Social Participation, and Accountability;
• Public Media and Media Literacy;
• Public Media, Integrity, Quality, and Trust in Information;
• Public Media and Accessibility;
• Public Media and Innovation in the Field of Social Representations.

References
Clad. (2023). Carta Iberoamericana de Inteligencia Artificial en la Administración Pública. Centro Latinoamericano de Administración para el Desarrollo.
Donders, Karen. (2021). Public Service Media in Europe – Law, Theory and Practice. Ed. Routledge Research in Media Law.
European Parliament. (2024) Artificial Intelligence Act.
European Commission. (2022). The Digital Services Act.
Lopes, F. (Ed.). (2023). Serviço Público de Média – Livro Branco. Ministério da Cultura.
Paulino, F. O., Guazina, L., Oliveira, M. (2016). Serviço público de média e comunicação pública: conceito, contextos e experiências. Comunicação e Sociedade, 30, 55-70.
Pinheiro, E. B. B. (2019). Radiodifusão sonora pública do Brasil: o processo de conformação do serviço e os desafios de sua integração no ambiente digital. Tese de Doutoramento, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Brasil.
Rossetti, R. (2013). Categorias de inovação para os estudos em Comunicação – Categories of innovation for communication studies. Comunicação & Inovação, 14(27), 63-72.
Santos, L. A.; Del Bianco, N. (2016). Serviço público de média e participação. Comunicação e Sociedade, 30.
Unesco. (2001). La radio y televisión pública: ¿Por qué? ¿Cómo? Consejo Mundial de Radio y Television.
United Nations. (2024). United Nations Global Principles For Information Integrity – Recommendations for Multi-stakeholder Action.
Van Dijck, J., Poell, T., & De Wall, M. (2018). The plataform society: Public values in a connective world. Oxford University Press.

KEY DATES
1st Call for Papers: 13 February 2025
Deadline for Submissions: 7 July 2025
Publication date: 15 December 2025

Submission guidelines:
Articles must be submitted online via https://journals.ipl.pt/cpublica/index. Authors are required to register in the system before submitting an article; if you have already registered, simply log into the system and start the 5-step submission process.

Articles must be submitted using the pre-formatted template of Comunicação Pública. For more information on submission, please read Information for Authors and Guidelines for Authors.